August 29, 2016

Lulu’s first away show

By Olivia Godfrey.

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Recently as I’m sure many of you have seen on my Twitter, my horse Lulu and I attended Grazing Fields Farm’s Head of The Bay Classic in Buzzards Bay, MA (Cape Cod). This was Lulu’s first stay-in-a-tent-for-a-week show, and I was very excited to see how she would handle the transition and new environment for the week. I’ve been to grazing fields multiple times for one day shows, and I have competed in the HOTB Classic for years prior to this one, so, I was very prepared and knew exactly what to expect of the show which I think helped Lulu a lot. When we arrived on Tuesday Lulu had no idea what to think. She stepped off the trailer and looked around, but was very timid towards the tents. She didn’t really know what to think when I asked her to walk into the big, white and blue attraction (the tent). However, eventually, with some trepidation, she finally walked in and relaxed once I put her in the stall which would be her new home for the week.

The first day was pretty quiet, and I was just focused on unpacking and settling Lulu in for the night. After I was organized I took Lulu for another small hand walk around the farm to show her the tents and other little things that changed because of the classic. I then hopped on and took her for a hack, and she felt really great, so I was super confident about showing the next day. I was my own groom the entire week, which was SO exhausting. Side Note: Props to those who care for and show multiple horses on their own.

The next day we were showing, so after a quick Starbucks stop (which was only 2 minutes away from the show grounds…. amazing) I arrived at around 6 A.M. I immediately went to the ring to look over the class sizes and enter myself in the puddle and training that were running that day. I decided to skip the warm-up because Lulu has been to the show so many times, and I don’t mind going in cold. Additionally, her puddle round is considered to be her warm-up class for that day. The first round (puddle) went really well, and she was clean except for one rail in the jump off, which was a rider error. The second round went better in the sense that she was faster and more responsive; however (rider error again) we had 2 rails in the power, so we didn’t make it to the speed. The first rail was me not setting her up well enough (however she should’ve helped me out), and the second was a schooling rail; when you add an extra stride to get a rub or a knock down so the horses pickup their feet. After the schooling rail, she went clean and jumped much better, so I was pleased!

The rest of the week was pretty light, and I lunged and hacked around the show every day that we weren’t showing. I was alone for the second half of the show because the farm whose stall I was able to take only stayed the first week. This made it really challenging, and I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure I cared for my horse the best way I could. Lulu only had one scare when she was slightly dehydrated and acted colic-y. However, I called the vet and gave her some milk of magnesia and thankfully she was much better the rest of the night and the next day.

Grazing Fields Farm is so beautiful and has so much land to explore. It’s honestly one of the most relaxing places I’ve ever been. They have a great size flat grass field, which is awesome for lessons or light hacks, 3 schooling rings, a pony ring, hunter land, and a huge eq/jumper ring. The atmosphere at Grazing Field Farm is surprisingly not tense, even though there is a horse show there, which is probably because everyone at the farm works really hard to make sure the days run smoothly. They have a huge team with a great work ethic. You always see the coaches hopping from horse to horse and ring to ring. I had the pleasure of training with Grazing Fields during HOTB and in the past at one day shows. I’m either training with the owner of the farm, Kathy Fletcher, or one of her coaches. But either way (even though Kathy is super awesome) I always feel taken care of, comfortable, confident, and genuinely cared about, even though I’m not a boarder or a part of their farm the majority of the time. All the trainers have given me awesome insight and tips to use with Lulu, not only when showing, but at home as well.

My last two days showing went really well. On Tuesday I competed in the training jumpers. Lulu was great, and we got a 4th and an 8th out of classes with 20 or so entries. I was really happy with the results even though we don’t ride for ribbons just yet… still learning the ropes!

Overall it was an awesome experience. While it was really exhausting, I still had a lot of fun, and the Cape Cod beach is my favorite. I totally recommend this show to anyone who wants to have a relaxing two weeks where you can easily focus on you and your horse and enjoy a show ground where everything is within walking distance (no golf cart or dirt bike necessary). I’m so pleased with how Lulu handled everything as a 6 year old OTTB competing in her first real show season.

August 13, 2016

19 Stages of Competing in a Horse Show

By: Grace O’Brien

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Horse shows: we love them, and we hate them. There are so many ups and downs that we go through while showing. Despite everything that may go wrong during a horse show, one thing is for sure: we are hooked.

1. Weeks before the show you start doing as much research on your competition as possible.

200_s-2

2. Getting to the show grounds the day before you show with your friends like…

3. But that night the reality sets in that you’re going to have to show in front of a judge…

4. The next morning you pull yourself together and walk into the show grounds like…

5. You try getting your horse to come near you for a pre-show pep talk but it doesn’t really work out.

6. You get your horse ready for the show ring and while you wish they looked like this:

beautifol

They actually look like this:

7. You head to the ring to warm up and see your friends and family cheering for you.

8. While you’re warming up you to try to be discrete about looking at your competition and it looks more like this:

9. Your warm up goes decently well, and you’re feeling kind of ready.

10. But then the nerves set in…

11. Your trainer gives you some words of encouragement and off you go!

12. You trot into the ring and pick up the canter but feel like this inside:

13. You give the course the best you got – or at least try to

14. The judge and the ring steward watch your ride like…

15. While your trainer is watching at the in-gate like:

16. Finally your division is over and everyone tries to get their horses to stand still in the lineup, but it ends up looking like this:

17. You’re sitting in the line up minding your own business when you hear your name called for first place:

18. You leave the lineup to take pictures, and as you wait for your victory gallop, you pause to take it all in – all of the hard work, sweat and most likely tears, has paid off.

19. After you take care of your horse and hug your trainer, you then go raid the horse show’s concession stand…

Followed by a nap on the closest tack trunk:

lineup

August 3, 2016

Confessions of An Aspiring Amateur: Following your intuition in riding

12715375_10205735361246693_4642775076942837591_n Over a year ago, I was faced with the task of finding a new barn on very short notice. My trainer (at the time) and I went on a manhunt, trying to find the best facility for me and my pony (I only had two horses at the time). I knew I had goals of showing, so finding a show facility was important to me, as was finding one with good care because it was clear I wasn’t going to find a new facility that was a. close by and b. allowed outside trainers.

I reached out to my farrier for some recommendations, and he told me to call a woman named Holly (now my trainer). He told me she was hands down the best horse caretaker and trainer in the area, and he would make a phone call for me to see if my trainer at the time could come with me (Equestrian Lesson: this is why you should always be nice to your farriers, vets, masseuses, chiropractors, etc.)

I spoke with Holly on the phone, and I instantly fell in love with her mission, her facility (though I hadn’t seen it), and everything she had to offer. She seemed to be the perfect fit for me, even though the barn was a bit further than I would have liked. However, quality care was important to me as was a show atmosphere because that was my goal now.

My trainer at the time and I looked around at a few new places, but I still kept coming back to Holly’s place. I really felt it was the right fit for me, well.. us, and every other facility I visited paled in comparison. Additionally, Holly was willing to allow my trainer to come in and teach me, as a favor to my farrier since I was such a good client to his (see my equestrian lesson cited above).

I decided that I wanted to move to Holly’s facility, and shortly thereafter, we made the move. The care was impeccable; the facilities beautiful; the ring was gorgeous; and Holly was super nice and accommodating. She made me and my horses feel at home as did the barn owner, and that was something I really appreciated, especially because I was sort of encroaching on her territory by bringing in an outside trainer.

As you all know, last May, I decided to switch trainers and begin riding with Holly. After some reflection, a lame horse as Garden State Horse Show, and a lesson with Holly on one of her school horses where I realized that confidence I had built up over the two years I was at other barns, I realized that it wasn’t so scary switching trainers.

My intuition was right. There was a reason I was so strongly pulled to Holly’s facility, and now she is not just the trainer I see myself sticking with for the rest of my career, but also someone I can call a close friend (and coincidentally, she went to college with my boyfriend, and they hung out frequently – weird, right?)

Oftentimes we may be feeling something in our gut but suppressing it. It can do with anything related to horseback riding. I urge you to go with that feeling in your gut. Your intuition is one of your most valuable tools, and you never know where it can lead you.

12745909_10205735358726630_79687092897808802_n-2 Although I am on a break from riding right now due to a head injury, Holly was upped my confidence tenfold. Before my head injury, I was showing and winning. My knowledge and riding has improved so much since I began taking consistent lessons with her. She found me the perfect horse (Monte), keeps me on my toes, talks to me as a friend, keeps me in line, and pushes me when I need to be pushed.

Note: None of this is a knock on my former trainer, and it should not be construed as such. She is a wonderful person, and she helped build my confidence from next to nothing. She was my best friend for years. She was there when I needed her most when Rascal died; when I was horse searching because I had nothing to ride at our former barn; and when things were going south in my riding life. She and I agreed it was just time to move on. My goals just didn’t mesh with the type of trainer she wanted to be, and she did the honorable thing by telling me to move onto someone else rather than keeping me as a client and promising me things on which she couldn’t follow through – like consistently attending ‘A’ rated horse shows, which require a ton of time and effort on the trainer’s part.

So next time you’re feeling your gut telling you something, take a moment and listen. It might be scary. Trust me, I never imagined myself leaving my former trainer. However, you could be cutting yourself off from a path of even more success, confidence, and better riding than you ever imagined.

August 2, 2016

Product Review: Ecovet Fly Spray

Ecovet was kind enough to send us a free sample of their fly spray to be reviewed.

If you haven’t heard of Ecovet Fly Spray, it is a fly spray that utilizes fatty acids to repel bugs from horses. It is also endorsed by veterinarians and tested by them. According to the Ecovet website, the fly spray provides an “alternative” to toxic pesticides.

What do fatty acids have to do with repelling bugs? Here is the explanation from the Ecovet “How It Works” page:

Research has shown that certain fatty acids act as insect attractants, while others are repellents. Ecovet uses a proprietary mixture of naturally occurring fatty acids that confuses and overwhelms the insect’s normal directional ability, so the insect is unable to locate your horse as its next victim. It’s like having a GPS system that is shouting confusing and conflicting directions at you … until you finally give up.

I first tried the fly spray on my horse Monte. During application, I would highly recommend doing it in an open area. The smell is a bit overtaking and irritates the throat and eyes. However, once you get outside and it settles onto the horse, this effect disappears. In fact, my barn owner commented that it smelled like baby powder.

I found the spray to be very effective. Monte was not bothered by the flies or bugs at all while my trainer was riding him. I used it two days in a row, just to be sure.

But now for the big test. We have a mare at my barn that is super sensitive to bugs, so much so that it affects her ability to concentrate while being ridden (she’s also four). My trainer asked if she could use the Ecovet on the mare to see if it would help at all. The mare eventually settled in, and my trainer stated after the ride was finished that the mare was much more pleasant and focused with the fly spray on.

So, it’s been used on several horses on my barn and found to be super effective.

There are a few drawbacks that I will outline quickly:

First, application. It definitely stinks when being sprayed on initially, and like I said, it’s best to do so in an open area because it has a suffocating affect on your lungs.
Second, I left my unopened bottle in my car for the first couple days until I could get down to the barn. Unfortunately, the heat unsealed the aluminum covering on the bottle, and half the bottle leaked all over my car.
Third, there is a suggestion on the fly spray for it to only be used on the lower half of the horses body. You cannot use it around the neck or face area. Additionally, it also says that if the horse is super sweaty, not to use the fly spray either.

You can purchase the product in a 4 oz., 8 oz., or 1 gallon bottle here. It can also be found at other local and online tack stores like Dover and SmartPak. In fact, it was voted the best natural fly spray by SmartPak users. You can also buy it on Amazon.

Overall, I really liked the fly spray and will continue using it on my horses. I do have to get a new bottle already because half of mine leaked, but it is not a fly spray that you have to keep reapplying so I foresee the bottle lasting a long time. The Ecovet website states that it lasts up to 3 days, and I believe this claim from what I’ve seen. It is definitely more effective than those other, more toxic fly sprays that claim to be effective for up to 17 days (and in case you were wondering, 17 days is a huge stretch).

Stay tuned to our next post for a contest brought to you by The Legal Equestrian and Ecovet! It’s great for those who want to try the product as well as users of the product that would like to try a win a much-needed refill or some other prizes being offered!

July 25, 2016

What to do during a course walk

Written by Joscelyn Richards.

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Course walking is my one of my favorite things to do at a horse show. I always feel like a hardcore equestrian who could go tackle a Grand Prix course after I course walk (even if I’m just walking my 3ft hunter course). However, sometimes course walks can be overwhelming, especially if it is a big class. Through my years of experience I have developed tips for what you should do during a course walk.

Picture Credit: @jlrequinephotography

Stay with your trainer

Your trainer is like your “tour guide” during the course walk so do not lose them. They will be able to give you helpful insights during the course walk that will help you succeed during your round. In big classes there will dozens of other people walking the course at the same time as you, so make sure you stick next to your trainer. If you’re a short equestrian like me you know how difficult it can be to match your trainer’s walk. I have found that looking down at their legs while they walk and counting the strides out loud helps me stay with them.

Ask questions

The course walk is like a sneak peak to how your round will go! Make sure you have the course memorized before you course walk. This allows you to focus on planning out your approaches and distances before you go into the ring with your horse. Course walks are the golden time to ask your trainer any questions you have about your course. If you have a question about the striding of a line or what turn to take, your trainer can show you how you should ride it in real life.

Bring a crop with you

Okay this might sound weird, but trust me it helps. I always carry a crop with me so that I can point to the different jumps while I’m walking. I point and move the crop around the course like it is me and my horse. I have never gone off course after using a crop to point and go over my course. Plus, if your trainer gets on your nerves you can give them a tap on their behind (just kidding don’t do this unless you want no stirrups for a month).

Be aware of your surroundings

There will be other trainers and students walking the course at the same time as you. Don’t be that rider that walks the course while using SnapChat and texting their friends. One time at WEF I saw a rider run into a trainer, who was walking a line, because she was taking a selfie. Be courteous to other riders and trainers, and pay attention to where you walk. Also, make sure you wait your turn to walk a line, don’t cut in front of people.

Picture Credit: @jlrequinephotography

Don’t Stress Out

Course walks are supposed to help you during your rounds, so take full advantage of them. If you’re feeling nervous about your course, tell your trainer, and they can help calm your nerves. Remember, anyone can feel nervous about a course. I’ve even seen some big name riders look worried about a course. Just have fun and do your best!

What do you do during a course walk? Let us know in the comments!

The Legal Equestrian

Lulu’s first away show

19 Stages of Competing in a Horse Show

Confessions of An Aspiring Amateur: Following your intuition in riding

Product Review: Ecovet Fly Spray

What to do during a course walk

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